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SEATTLE — A shrill of the whistle.

Years from now, when folks will no doubt still be talking about the fifth-set comeback by Nebraska late Saturday night to earn a spot in the NCAA volleyball final four, everyone will have the one thing they remember most from that moment.

In family rooms and bar rooms alike across the Cornhusker State, the reaction was likely raucous. Folks will remember who it was they hugged, or whose hands they high-fived at that instant.

Nebraska's, left to right, Jordan Larson, Rachel Schwartz, Tara Mueller, Amanda Gates, Kayla Banworth and Sydney Anderson celebrate as Nebraska defeats Washington in the 5th game during the NCAA Div. 1 regional women's volleyball in Seattle on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP)

But for those inside Bank of America Arena, which had been rocking for the better part of two hours as Washington seemed destined for victory, the sudden descent of Jordan Larson’s match-winning serve was met with stunned silence.

As the ball fell between helpless defenders, as Larson fell to her knees and a hush fell over the crowd, referee Margie Ray’s whistle was the only sound that you heard.

“I just saw the ball land, and I just fell to the ground,” said Larson, whose eyes were soon filled with tears. “I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that someone didn’t go after it.”

Unbelievable is about the only way to describe Nebraska’s 14-25, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24, 15-13 win sending the No. 4 Huskers into Thursday’s semifinal against top-ranked and unbeaten Penn State at Qwest Center Omaha.

That news had to come as a shock to some Sunday morning, those who went to bed believing there was no way that Nebraska could come back from down two sets to none, let alone erase a normally bulletproof 9-3 Washington lead in the fifth set.

How did they do it? In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s victory, that was hard for anyone to truly comprehend. No doubt, there were strategic adjustments made, and clearly Nebraska played better as the match wore on.

But what ultimately was the deciding factor was a mentality. The Huskers, although clearly frustrated by all of their early errors, didn’t let it stop them.

“Washington’s a good team, the best team we’ve played all year,” said Nebraska coach John Cook, whose Huskers lost previously on the road at Colorado and Texas this season.

“I think if we had controlled our emotions better at Texas, we could have beat them there,” Cook added. “We handled our emotions better tonight when we could have hit the panic button.”

Sophomore outside hitter Tara Mueller was named the region’s most outstanding player after leading Nebraska with 24 kills. Other all-region selections from Nebraska were Larson, right-side hitter Lindsey Licht and setter Sydney Anderson.

Yet the list of Husker heroes doesn’t stop there. Kayla Banwarth led NU with 22 digs, and Rachel Schwartz, playing in only three back-row rotations, had 16.

Amanda Gates added seven blocks, three coming in the 9-0 run that Nebraska forged when faced with the 9-3 deficit. Larson had five kills in the same stretch, and when this masterpiece of a match reached its theatrical conclusion, it was fitting that she was the one with the ball in her hand.

“That’s Jordan,” Cook said. “I keep saying she’s the best player I’ve ever coached at Nebraska. This pretty much cements it, I think.

“What she’s done, how she’s led this team and that effort tonight, that goes in the legend category.”

And as legends go, it’s one that you can bet will grow with time. Where were you when Larson’s serve left an entire arena speechless?

“Like Coach Cook said, this game and this team will go down as one of the best,” Larson said, pausing for a few seconds while she collected her own thoughts, “I don’t know how to explain it — just the best.”

http://huskerextra.com/articles/2008...4203855928.txt